Explore the Historic City of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a small island nation located just south of the Indian subcontinent. This region is especially amazing for tourists due to its natural biodiversity, rich culture, and different landscapes. Among its different landscapes, Sigiriya, also known as the Lion Rock, is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist attractions.
Sigiriya is a 600-foot-tall rock formation on which a massive fort was built, making it one of the most unique civilizations in the world. The fort was built by a king named Kashyap, who named his city and fort after the rock itself.
In the modern day, UNESCO recognizes this place as a world heritage site and makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. So, let us take a look at how you can explore the historic city of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka.
History of Sigiriya
Just like every place in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya also has a rich history that is preserved within this place. According to these ancient remnants, the rock formation was once used as a Buddhist Monastery from the 3rd century B.C. After this, Sigiriya was used as a fortress and capital of the kingdom of King Kashyap around the late 5th century A.D.
The king moved his original capital from Anuradhapura to this rock formation due to his fear of retaliation from his half-brother Moggallana. This fear ended up becoming a reality as Moggallana waged a war against King Kashyap and won the war. The city and fort built upon Sigirya were then repurposed as a Buddhist monastery again before being abandoned.
During his rule, King Kashyap made two large lion paw statues from stone near the entrance of his fort. He also built a lion’s face in the rock, but this has been corroded from natural elements over the centuries. These elements tied to the history of Sigiriya are why it is known as the Lion’s Rock.
How to Reach Sigiriya from Colombo
To reach Sigiriya, you have plenty of options that you can take upon reaching Colombo. The best way to reach Sigiriya is to book a cab that takes you to the fort. The journey is around 178 km and can take up to 3-4 hours to complete. You can also take a flight to the Sigiriya airport which is the fastest way of reaching the fort.
This option also allows you to have a look at the gorgeous view of the Sigiriya rock surrounded by a large forest full of lush green trees. The flight will only take around 30 minutes to complete the journey, however, it is also the most expensive option to reach Sigiriya Rock.
If quick availability is what you are looking for then tuk-tuk services are also available where the drivers will take you to the Sigiriya fort. There are plenty of drivers available for hire, however, this option takes 4-5 hours to complete the journey due to the slow speed of a tuk-tuk. These are your best options to reach Sigiriya from Colombo.
We advise you to not hire bus and train services for this trip, but if the other options are not suitable for you or are unavailable, you can use these services as well. Both of these will also take 4-5 hours of travel time but require you to change buses or another mode of transport after a certain point to complete the journey which may or may not add to the cost and time for travel.
Best Places to Visit in Sigiriya
Observe the Gardens of Sigiriya
The fort of Sigiriya has plenty of gardens both man-made and natural phenomena that are present both inside and outside of the fort complex itself. Within the fort, there is the Water Garden. This place is a large complex built in the middle of the fort that has a large swimming pool which is also filled with many fountains that pour water into the pool.
There are also other swimming pools with small islands built into them. On the outside, there are also Boulder Gardens which house large rock formations that were once used as foundations for several structures. Finally, there are Terraced Gardens which have stairs carved into the naturally generated slopes of the Sigiriya rock to access places at higher altitudes.
All of these gardens are a signature part of any tourism within the area of Sigiriya.
Explore the City of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is a must-visit place near the Sigiriya fort. Anuradhapura was the original capital of the kingdom of King Kashyap who built the Sigiriya fort. This city holds significant importance in the history of Sri Lanka. It also holds religious importance in the Buddhist culture as one of the most sacred places in their culture.
Click Pictures with Elephants In Minneriya National Park
Sri Lanka boasts some of the most diverse wildlife in the entire Southeast Asia region. A trip to Sri Lanka cannot be considered complete without witnessing the wildlife present in the country. The Minneriya National Park serves as an excellent place where you can observe all the wildlife boasted by Sri Lanka through a jeep ride along this natural reserve.
The biggest highlight of this place is the large population of elephants that live in this area. Here, you can take pictures of both herds of elephants and even close-up selfies with them as long as you are under the care of an expert.
Climb to the Dambulla Cave Temples
One of the most fascinating structures tourists can explore in the Southeast Asia region are temples built inside cave systems of various hills. In Sri Lanka, the Dambulla cave temples are located very close to the Sigiriya fort and can be reached by climbing which lasts for about 10-15 minutes.
The temple complex is filled with Buddha statues attached to the walls along with several ancient paintings which are considered important for Buddhist culture. Explore these temples to immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Sri Lanka.
Enjoy the Sunset from Pidurangala Rock
Another rock formation that is popular in Sri Lanka is the Pidurangala rock. This rock provides an excellent sunset view from its peak which you can reach within 30 - 40 minutes of climbing. There is also a temple on your way to the summit which you can explore as you climb on the top. The temperature around this rock is relatively cool which helps to deal with the long climbing.
Sri Lanka is a country that boasts a diverse natural landscape and rich history for tourists to enjoy on their trip. Colombo, Kandy, Ellah, and Galle are some of Sri Lanka’s most popular places for tourists to explore and enjoy, however, one of the most fascinating places in Sri Lanka is the fort situated on the top of Sigiriya rock.
Sigiriya is one of the most popular places in Sri Lanka due to its historical importance and cultural significance in the Buddhist religion. A trip to Sigiriya is a must for any proper Sri Lanka tour plan. So, if you wish to visit Sigiriya, start applying for your Sri Lanka e-visa early and book all your reservations early on.
There are only a limited number of hotels available near Sigiriya which makes it difficult to get reservations during peak tourist months.
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Check Eligibility for Sri Lanka eTA and apply for Sri Lanka eTA 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Australian citizens, Polish citizens, Mexican citizens, Irish citizens and Romanian citizens can apply online for Sri Lanka eTA.